Yarn string-up device

ABSTRACT

A jet can be utilized to pass yarn through a deflection valve. The direction of rotation of the fluid in the jet and the resulting torque on the yarn can be varied to impart a desired amount of twist to the yarn. The deflection valve can pass the yarn to the next processing station or to waste, as desired, and cuts the yarn upon being charged from one condition to the other.

United States Patent lnventors Hayes J. Schmick;

Hans Van Doornewaard, Greenville, S.C. Appl. No. 798,667 Filed Feb. 12,1969 Patented May 4, 1971 Assignee Phillips Fibers Corporation YARNSTRING-UP DEVICE 12 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs. I

U.S. Cl 57/77.33, 28/1.4, 57/34,- 57/77.3 lnt.Cl D0lh 7/92, D02g 1/04Field of Search 57/77.3,

77.45, 34, 34.5, 14 (B), 157 (F); 28/l.4, 72.12

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,079,746 3/1963 Field, Jr57/77.33X 3,363,294 l/1968 Jeurissen et al.. 57/34X 3,445,995 5/1969Bell et al 57/34 3,449,805 6/ l 969 Lubach 28/ l .4 3,460,213 8/ 1969Ensslin et al. 28/1.4

Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney-Young and Quigg ABSTRACT: A jetcan be utilized to pass yarn through a deflection valve. The directionof rotation of the fluid in the jet and the resulting torque on the yarncan be varied to impart a desired amount of twist to the yarn. Thedeflection valve can pass the yarn to the next processing station ,or towaste, as desired, and cuts the yarn upon being charged from onecondition to the other.

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INVENTORS H.J. SCH MICK HANS VAN DOORNEWAAR D A TTORNEYS PATENTEU HAY41971 SHEET 3 BF 3 .INVENTORS H.J. SCH MICK HANS VAN DOORNEWAAR D 6 z EATTORNEYS YARN STRING-UP DEVICE This invention relates to a string-updevice for textile yarn processing operations.

In string up operations it is desirable to have some means of disposingof the yarn output from an upstream processing station while the nextstation is being readied. Then it is necessary to cut the yarn andinsert the cut end of the yarn into the readied processing station. Inthe past, it has generally been necessary for the operator to manuallycut the yarn and effect the yarn insertion into the next station.

It is an object of the invention to provide mechanical means forselectively passing yarn to waste or to the next processing station. Itis an object of the invention to provide mechanical means forautomatically cutting a yarn when it is desired to change the downstreampath of the yarn. It is an object of the invention to provide means forvarying the direction of rotation of the fluid and/or the amount of theresulting torque in a fluid string-up jet.

Other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom a study of the specification, the drawing and the appended claimsto the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a yarn string up device inaccordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a partial elevational view in cross section along line 3-3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial elevational view corresponding to a portion of FIG.3 and showing the valve slide member in the yarn passing position,

FIG. 5 is a transverse elevation view, partly in cross section alongline 5-5 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view along line 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the yarn outlet end of the valve withseveral elements omitted, and

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view along 88 of FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the yarn string-up devicecomprises an inlet section 11, a jet twisting section 12 and a valvesection 13. Inlet section 11 comprises a member 14 having a yarnpassageway 15 therethrough, and a nosing 16 attached to the inlet end ofmember 14. Nosing 16 has a conical entranceway 17 in axial alignmentwith the passageway 15. A jacket 18 is spaced from and surrounds nosingl6 and has one end curved inwardly in conformity with the inlet end ofentranceway 17 with an opening 19 therein in axial alignment withpassageway 15. An O-ring 21 seals the opposite end of jacket 18 tonosing 16. A conduit 22, containing a valve 23, provides communicationbetween a source of aspirating fluid, for example air, and the chamberbetween nosing 16 and jacket 18. Y

The jet twisting section 12 comprises a jet-housing member 24 and a yarninlet member 25. Housing member 24 is provided with a first cylindricalpassageway 26, first and second conical passageways 27 and 28 and asecond cylindrical passageway 29, serially arrayed in axial alignment.The diameter of the first cylindrical passageway 26 will generally beequal to or greater than the diameter of the adjacent large end ofconical passageway 27. The diameter of cylindrical passageway 29 will beat least equal to the diameter of the adjacent small end of conicalpassageway 28. Yarn inlet member is provided with a conical nose section31, an intermediate cylindrical section 32, an externally threadedsection 33 and a knurled section 34. The threaded section 33 of the yarninlet member engages the corresponding internally threaded section ofthe housing member 24 to coaxially position the downstream or nosesection 31 of the yarn inlet member within the conical passageway 28.Rotative movement of knurled section 34 varies the thickness of theannular passageway formed between nose section 31 and the wall ofpassageway 28. In general the angle of nose section 31 will besubstantially identical to the angle of passageway 28, but differentangles of inclination can be utilized where desired. The

conical passageway 27 will generally have a larger angle of inclinationthan passageway 28. Member 25 is provided with a yarn inlet passageway36 in axial alignment with passageway 29. The member 14 of the inletsection is secured to member 25 by bolts 37 so that passageways 15 and36 are in axial alignment.

I-Iousing member 24 is provided with a cylindrical passageway 41 whichradially intersects cylindrical chamber 26-. A conduit 42 communicatesbetween a source of pressurized conveying fluid and passageway 41.Conduit 42 can be provided with a collar 43 to engage O-ring 44 toprovide a sealed connected to passageway 41. A deflector vane 45 ispositioned within passageway 41 and can be rotatively moved by knurledmember 46 within the degree of freedom-permitted by pin 47 which extendsthrough a slot 48 in deflector vane 45 into openings in the adjacentwalls of housing member 24. Vane 45 is so shaped that when it is in themidposition of its path of rotative movement, the fluid from conduit 42is directed radially against cylindrical section 32 and thus dividesevenly around member 25 to provide a fluid flow of substantially zerotorque into passageway 29. When vane 45 is rotated clockwise frommidposition, asillustrated in FIG. 6, the major portion of the fluidfrom conduit 42 is directed toward the back side of chamber 25, as seenin FIG. 3, resulting in a fluid stream in passageway 29 having acounterclockwise torque, looking downstream. The counterclockwisemovement of vane 45 from its midposition illustrated in FIG. 6 resultsin a fluid flow in passageway 29 having a clockwise torque, lookingdownstream. Thus, the position of vane 45 controls the direction andmagnitude of the false twist, if any, applied to the yarn. The positionof knurled section 34 controls the total flow rate of fluid throughconduit 42.

Valve section 13 comprises a housing member 51 secured to housing member24 by bolts 52. Housing member 51 is provided with a valve chamber 53,an opening 54, an internally threaded outlet opening 55, and a wasteyarn outlet passageway 56. A bushing 57 of suitable material, forexample, tool steel, is secured in inlet opening 54 by suitable means,for example by being provided with an annular flange 58' clamped betweenmembers 24 and 51. Bushing 57 is provided with a cylindrical passageway59 which is coaxial with passageway 29.

Valve slide member 61 is slidably positioned in valve chamber 53 and canbe moved from a yarn-passing position, illustrated in FIG.'4, to ayam-deflecting position, illustrated in FIG. 3, and vice versa. Valveslide member 61 is provided with a cylindrical passageway 62 which, inthe yam-passing position, is coaxial with passageway 59, and a curvedgroove 63 which, in the yarn deflection position, provided communicationbetween passageway 59 and waste yarn passageway 56. Valve slide member61 is also formed of a suitable material, for example tool steel, sothat the upper edge of groove 63 and the lower edge of the wall ofpassageway 59 act to sharply sever the yarn when the slide member 61 ismoved from the yarn deflecting position to the yam-passing position.Similarly, the lower edge of the wall of passageway 62 and the upperedge of the wall of passageway 59 act to sever the yarn when the slidemember 61 is moved from the yarn passing position to the yarn-deflectingposition. A conduit 64 is connected to housing member 51 to providecommunication between waste yarn passageway 56 and a point of disposalof the waste yarn. The valve slide member 61 is resiliently urgedagainst the end of bushing by ball detents 65 and 66 (FIG. 8). Ifdesired, detent depressions can be provided in the adjacent surface ofslide member 61 to cooperate with ball detents 65 and 66 to accuratelylocate and maintain the slide member 61 in the desired operatingposition.

Valve slide member 61 is retained in valve chamber 53 by a cover plate67 secured to housing member 51 by bolts 68 and 69 and is provided withpins 71 and 72 which project outwardly through slots 73 and 74,respectively, in cover plate 67. Striker arm 75 is pivoted on pin 76 andcontacts the lower surface of pin 71 to move the valve slide memberupwardly to the yam-passing position or the upper surface of pin 72 tomove the slide member 61 downwardly to the yam-deflecting position.Striker arm 75 is resiliently maintained in either one of its two stablepositions by snap action spring 77, and is snapped from one position tothe other by the displacement of spring 77 by the manually effectedrotative motion of handle plate 78 about pivot pin 79. One end of spring77 is coiled around pin 81 on striker arm 75 while the other end ofspring 77 is coiled around pin 82 on handle plate 78. A handlebar 83 isconnected to the end of handle plate 78 remote from pivot pin 79. Pivotpin 76 extends through a curved slot 84 in handle plate 78 to providemechanical stability for plate 78 as well as provide stops or limits tothe degree of rotative movement of handle plate 78. Spacer collars 85and 86 can be positioned on pivot pin 76 to establish the desiredspacing between cover plate 67, striker arm 76 and handle plate 78.

A nozzle body member 91 is threaded into outlet 55. Member 91 has aconical entranceway 92 and an internally threaded section 93. Anexternally threaded nozzle insert 94 is secured in section 93, and isprovided with a yarn passageway 95 which is coaxial with passageway 29.A bayonet lock member 96, or any other desired positioning means, can besecured to member 91.

In a string-up operation, the end of yarn 10 is inserted into theentranceway 17 of inlet section 11. Valve 23 is opened to pass airthrough conduit 22 to aspirate the yarn into and through passageways land 36. Valve 97 is opened to supply air through conduit 42 to jetsection 12. Vane 45 is moved from its midposition if it is desired tointroduce twist into yarn 10. The valve slide member 61 is moved to theyarn-deflecting position by movement of handle 83 to cause the passageof the yarn through conduit 64 to waste disposal. When it is desired toforward the yarn to the next processing operation, the operator graspshandle 83 and causes the movement of the slide member 61 to the yarnpassing position, thereby cutting the yarn and directing subsequentpositions of the yarn through the nozzle 94 into the next processingunit.

The string-up device thus described combines in one piece of apparatusthe functions of (1) false twisting yarn or fila ments, (2) passing theunwanted yarn to waste, (3) cutting the yarn, and (4) passing the falsetwisted yarn to downstream processing steps such as drawing, relaxing,heat setting, etc. Should one of the downstream processing stepsencounter trouble requiring shut down for repairs, the operator can by aflip of handle 83 deflect the yarn to waste thereby keeping all upstreamprocessing steps in operation. When said repairs are completed, anotherflip of handle 83 returns the yarn to downstream processing. Without theconvenience of the string-up gun, it would generally be necessary toshut down the processing steps upstream of the step where trouble isencountered.

False twist is desired in some processing steps, i.e. texturizing,relaxing, etc. as a means of maintaining a plurality of filaments in acoherent bundle. In such systems the use of the present device caneliminate the need for a separate false twisting apparatus. Several ofthe string-up guns can be used to advantage in a multiple step textilemanufacturing line.

While the invention has been described in terms of a slide valveembodiment, other forms can be utilized, for example a rotary plug valvewherein two passageways are provided, one for passing the yarn to theprocessing outlet and the other for passing the yarn to waste. The plugcan be stepped in a single direction or rotated in alternate directions.Although air is the presently preferred aspirating fluid and twistingfluid, any other suitable fluid or fluids can be utilized, for example,steam, nitrogen, water.

The term yam" as used herein, includes textured or untextured filamentsof natural or synthetic material, in the form of staple or continuousfilaments, or combinations thereof. A single continuous filaments or abundle of continuous and/or staple filaments can be processed in thedevice of the invention. The bundles can range from two filaments ofsmall denier per filament to a two having a total denier of 100,00 ormore.

Reasonable variations and modifications are possible within the scope ofthe foregoing disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims to theinvention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus comprising a valve housing having an inlet passageway andfirst and second outlets, a valve member operatively located in saidvalve housing and having first and second passageways, means forselectively actuating said valve member from a first position in saidvalve housing to a second position in said valve housing and from saidsecond position to said first position, said first passageway connectingsaid inlet passageway to said first outlet when said valve member is insaid first position, said second passageway connecting said inletpassageway to said second outlet when said -valve member is in saidsecond position, means for introducing a yarn in a conveying fluid intosaid inlet passageway the relative movement of the edge of the inletopening of the one of said first and second passageways through whichthe yarn is passing and the edge of the adjacent outlet end of saidinlet passageway upon the actuation of said valve member from either oneof said first and second positions to the other of said first and secondpositions effecting a severance of the yarn.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means forselectively actuating said valve member comprises means for effecting asnap action movement of said valve member from either one of said firstand second positions to the other of said first and second positions.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said edge of the inletopening of each of said first and second passageways and said edge ofthe adjacent outlet end of said inlet passageway are sharp and areformed of a material which maintains the sharp edges.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 further comprising means forresiliently urging said valve member against the portion of said valvehousing forming said outlet end of said inlet passageway.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said valve member is avalve slide member operatively positioned in said valve housing, andsaid means for selectively actuating said valve member comprises a snapaction spring for effecting a snap action movement of said valve memberfrom either one of said first and second positions to the other end ofsaid first and second positions.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said material is a toolsteel; wherein said inlet passageway, said first passageway and saidfirst outlet being coaxial when said valve member is in said firstposition; wherein said second passageway is curved to deflect the yarnand conveying fluid from the axial direction of said inlet passageway tothe axial direction of said second outlet; and wherein said first outletis in the form of a nozzle.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means forintroducing a yarn in a conveying fluid comprises a jet-housing memberhaving a first cylindrical passageway, at least one conical passageway,and a second cylindrical passageway serially arrayed in axial alignment;the diameter of said first cylindrical passageway being at least aboutthe diameter of the adjacent large end of said at least one conicalpassageway; the diameter of said second cylindrical passageway being atleast equal to the diameter of the adjacent small end of said at leastone conical passageway; a yarn inlet member having a conically shapednose section, and a yarn inlet passageway extending substantiallyaxially through said nose section; said yarn inlet member beingpositioned in said jet-housing member and extending through said firstcylindrical passageway with at least a portion of said nose sectionbeing located in said at least one conical passageway; means forintroducing a conveying fluid into said fluid first cylindricalpassageway; and means for varying the direction of rotation of saidconveying fluid about said nose section and the amount of torqueproduced by the thus rotating conveying fluid.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means for varyingcomprises a deflector vane positioned in the flow path of said conveyingfluid into said first cylindrical passageway.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means forintroducing a yarn in a conveying fluid comprises a jet-housing memberhaving a chamber therein, a yarn inlet member having at least adownstream section thereof positioned in said chamber to form a fluidpassageway surrounding said downstream section of said yarn inletmember, an outlet passageway in said jet-housing member communicatingwith said fluid passageway and being substantially coaxial with saiddownstream section of said yarn inlet member, a yarn inlet passagewayextending through said downstream section of said yarn inlet member insubstantial coaxial alignment with said outlet passageway of saidjet-housing member, means for introducing fluid into said fluidpassageway, and means for varying the direction of rotation about saiddownstream section of said yarn inlet member of the fluid moving throughsaid fluid passageway and the amount of torque produced by the thusrotating fluid on yarn passing from said yarn inlet passageway throughsaid outlet passageway of said jet-housing member.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 further comprising means foraspirating yarn through said yarn inlet passageway in said yarn inletmember.

11. Apparatus comprising a jet-housing member having a chamber therein,a yarn inlet member having at least a downstream section thereofpositioned in said chamber to form a fluid passageway surrounding saiddownstream section of said yarn inlet member, an outlet passageway insaid jethousing member communicating with said fluid passageway andbeing substantially coaxial with said downstream section of said yarninlet member, a yarn inlet passageway extending through said downstreamsection of said yarn inlet member in substantial coaxial alignment withsaid outlet passageway, means for introducing fluid into said fluidpassageway, and means for varying the direction of rotation about saiddownstream section of said yarn inlet member of the fluid moving throughsaid fluid passageway and the amount of torque produced by the thusrotating fluid on yarn passing from said yarn inlet passageway throughsaid outlet passageway.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said means for varyingcomprises a deflector vane positioned in the flow path of said fluidinto said chamber.

UNITED S'EATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,577,721 Dated: m I 1971 Hayes J. Schmick; Hana Van Doomewaard It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1;, line L2, "and" should be deleted; column A, line 68, aftersaid delete "fluid".

Signed and sealed this 9th day of January 1 973 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attestlng Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. Apparatus comprising a valve housing having an inlet passageway andfirst and second outlets, a valve member operatively located in saidvalve housing and having first and second passageways, means forselectively actuating said valve member from a first position in saidvalve housing to a second position in said valve housing and from saidsecond position to said first position, said first passageway connectingsaid inlet passageway to said first outlet when said valve member is insaid first position, said second passageway connecting said inletpassageway to said second outlet when said valve member is in saidsecond position, means for introducing a yarn in a conveying fluid intosaid inlet passageway the relative movement of the edge of the inletopening of the one of said first and second passageways through whichthe yarn is passing and the edge of the adjacent outlet end of saidinlet passageway upon the actuation of said valve member from either oneof said first and second positions to the other of said first and secondpositions effecting a severance of the yarn.
 2. Apparatus in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said means for selectively actuating said valvemember comprises means for effecting a snap action movement of saidvalve member from either one of said first and second positions to theother of said first and second positions.
 3. Apparatus in accordancewith claim 2 wherein said edge of the inlet opening of each of saidfirst and second passageways and said edge of the adjacent outlet end ofsaid inlet passageway are sharp and are formed of a material whichmaintains the sharp edges.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3further comprising means for resiliently urging said valve memberagainst the portion of said valve housing forming said outlet end ofsaid inlet passageway.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 whereinsaid valve member is a valve slide member operatively positioned in saidvalve housing, and said means for selectively actuating said valvemember comprises a snap action spring for effecting a snap actionmovement of said valve member from either one of said first and secondpositions to the Other end of said first and second positions. 6.Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said material is a toolsteel; wherein said inlet passageway, said first passageway and saidfirst outlet being coaxial when said valve member is in said firstposition; wherein said second passageway is curved to deflect the yarnand conveying fluid from the axial direction of said inlet passageway tothe axial direction of said second outlet; and wherein said first outletis in the form of a nozzle.
 7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1wherein said means for introducing a yarn in a conveying fluid comprisesa jet-housing member having a first cylindrical passageway, at least oneconical passageway, and a second cylindrical passageway serially arrayedin axial alignment; the diameter of said first cylindrical passagewaybeing at least about the diameter of the adjacent large end of said atleast one conical passageway; the diameter of said second cylindricalpassageway being at least equal to the diameter of the adjacent smallend of said at least one conical passageway; a yarn inlet member havinga conically shaped nose section, and a yarn inlet passageway extendingsubstantially axially through said nose section; said yarn inlet memberbeing positioned in said jet-housing member and extending through saidfirst cylindrical passageway with at least a portion of said nosesection being located in said at least one conical passageway; means forintroducing a conveying fluid into said fluid first cylindricalpassageway; and means for varying the direction of rotation of saidconveying fluid about said nose section and the amount of torqueproduced by the thus rotating conveying fluid.
 8. Apparatus inaccordance with claim 7 wherein said means for varying comprises adeflector vane positioned in the flow path of said conveying fluid intosaid first cylindrical passageway.
 9. Apparatus in accordance with claim1 wherein said means for introducing a yarn in a conveying fluidcomprises a jet-housing member having a chamber therein, a yarn inletmember having at least a downstream section thereof positioned in saidchamber to form a fluid passageway surrounding said downstream sectionof said yarn inlet member, an outlet passageway in said jet-housingmember communicating with said fluid passageway and being substantiallycoaxial with said downstream section of said yarn inlet member, a yarninlet passageway extending through said downstream section of said yarninlet member in substantial coaxial alignment with said outletpassageway of said jet-housing member, means for introducing fluid intosaid fluid passageway, and means for varying the direction of rotationabout said downstream section of said yarn inlet member of the fluidmoving through said fluid passageway and the amount of torque producedby the thus rotating fluid on yarn passing from said yarn inletpassageway through said outlet passageway of said jet-housing member.10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 further comprising means foraspirating yarn through said yarn inlet passageway in said yarn inletmember.
 11. Apparatus comprising a jet-housing member having a chambertherein, a yarn inlet member having at least a downstream sectionthereof positioned in said chamber to form a fluid passagewaysurrounding said downstream section of said yarn inlet member, an outletpassageway in said jet-housing member communicating with said fluidpassageway and being substantially coaxial with said downstream sectionof said yarn inlet member, a yarn inlet passageway extending throughsaid downstream section of said yarn inlet member in substantial coaxialalignment with said outlet passageway, means for introducing fluid intosaid fluid passageway, and means for varying the direction of rotationabout said downstream section of said yarn inlet member of the fluidmoving through said fluid passageway and the amount of torque producedby the thus rotating fluid on yarn passing from said yarn inletpassageway thrOugh said outlet passageway.
 12. Apparatus in accordancewith claim 11 wherein said means for varying comprises a deflector vanepositioned in the flow path of said fluid into said chamber.